What is the danger of ionizing radiation?

Answer 1

Ionizing radiation has the ability to break chemical bonds and facilitate exotic chemical reactions within living cells. The damage caused to cells can vary, and can be at least partially repaired if given enough time. The organism thus exposed may experience one or more of several adverse effects including: * radiation burns * hair loss (temporary or permantent) * cancer * reproductive sterility * mutations in offspring Whether any of these effects is actually experienced depends on the amount of radiation exposure and on how long and how often it occured. Radiation burns and hair loss may be apparent within hours, days or weeks of exposure, depending on the radiation intensity. Cancer from radiation exposure generally requires 10 or more years after exposure to develop. Ionizing radiation can be in the forms of high energy particles or electromagnetic radiation. Particulate ionizing radiations are: * Alpha particles (which cannot penetrate a sheet of paper or the top layer of skin) * Beta particles (moderately penetrating, but unable to reach the body core from outside the body) * Neutrons (either high energy or thermal) Electromagnetic Ionizing radiations include: * X-rays and gamma rays * ultra-violet radiation (only very high energy photons)

Answer 2

Ionizing radiation causes injury to living tissue due to the transfer of energy to atoms and molecules in the cellular structure. The excitations and ionization can produce free radicals, break chemical bonds, produce new chemical bonds and cross-linkage between macromolecules and damage molecules, such as DNA, RNA and protein, that regulate vital cell processes.

At low doses, like those received daily from background radiation, cellular damage is rapidly repaired. At higher levels, cell death results. At extremely high doses, cells cannot be replaced quickly enough and tissues fail to function.

Answer 3

Effects of radiation on living cells may result in a variety of outcomes, including:

1. Cells experience DNA damage and are able to detect and repair the damage.
2. Cells experience DNA damage and are unable to repair the damage. These cells may go through the process of programmed cell death, or apoptosis, thus eliminating the potential genetic damage from the larger tissue.
3. Cells experience a nonlethal DNA mutation that is passed on to subsequent cell divisions. This mutation may contribute to the formation of a cancer.
4. Cells experience "Irreparable DNA Damage." Low level ionizing radiation may induce "Irreparable DNA damage" (leading to replicational and transcriptional errors needed for neoplasia or may trigger viral interactions) leading to pre-mature aging and cancer.

Other observations at the tissue level are more complicated. These include:

In some cases, a small radiation dose reduces the impact of a subsequent, larger radiation dose. This has been termed an 'adaptive response' and is related to hypothetical mechanisms of hormesis

Answer 4

Nonionizing Radiation

We use and are exposed to nonionizing radiation sources every day. Microwave ovens use microwaves to heat food, toasters use infrared waves to heat and sometimes burn our toast, and we watch television, talk on cell phones, and listen to the radio through the use of radio waves. These are all nonionizing forms of radiation. Visible light, radar, laser light, and ultraviolet light also fall into this radiation category.

Some forms of nonionizing radiation can damage tissues if we are exposed too much. For instance, too much ultraviolet (UV) light from lying out in the sun is known to cause some skin cancers; even moderate amounts can cause skin burns.

In addition to the sun, UV waves (sometimes called UV radiation) are emitted by lights used in tanning beds, black lights, and lights used to pasteurize fruit juices. Some UV waves have an energy that is high enough to cause a structural change within atoms.

Visible light waves are also a form of nonionizing radiation, as is the light beam emitted by a laser. A laser beam can be visible, as in the case of a laser pointer, or a laser can emit an invisible beam of UV or infrared waves. With enough energy, lasers can cause biological damage, which is why they are useful in medicine to remove warts and some skin cancers and even to break up kidney stones.

As we talk about these different sources, we are moving along a continuum of energy called the electromagnetic spectrum. Ionizing radiation tops the spectrum with the highest energy, nonionizing ultraviolet waves are next. Then comes visible light waves followed by infrared waves. Infrared sources in our daily lives include toasters, toaster ovens, and heat lamps.

Now we get down to the lower energies where our favorite devices operate-in the radiofrequency (RF) wave range. From highest to lowest energy, this includes microwave ovens, global positioning systems, cell phones, television stations, FM radio, baby monitors, cordless phones, garage-door openers, CB radios, and AM radio. Radiofrequency waves can cause tissue heating at high energies and with high intensities.

The last type of nonionizing radiation we'll simply mention is extremely low-frequency (ELF) waves that are produced by electrical power lines and wiring.

Answer 5

• Exposure to ionizing radiation above specified limits and specified duration may cause thyroid problems, cancer, and may lead finally to death.
• However, one should know that the exposure to radiation bu one living besides a nuclear power plant fence 24 hours a day 365 days a year would get annual exposure to radiation less than the world average natural background ionizing radiation by 12 thousands times. Radiation from a nuclear power plant is less by 100 times that from a coal power plant of same rated power.

Answer 6

hair loss, radiation burns and mainly CANCER!

Answer 7

There are several health risks from low and high levels of ionizing radiation. These include skin redness, hair loss, and radiation burns.